Online classes, illness and loss of loved ones, no outdoor play, no friends to meet — the pandemic was a nightmare for children and award-winning short filmmaker Indira Dhar Mukherjee’s latest venture, Stars, is all about these hardships.
The film is scheduled to be screened at the International Kolkata Short Film Festival to be held in December.
Big challenges for little ones
Stars showcases how the pandemic impacted the overall development of children. “I am a mother of a young child and during COVID, I faced various challenges. Even as they (toddlers) were being initiated into the real world, the COVID menace had snatched away their right to socialise with their peers. Many children had started going to play school just before the pandemic, but all that changed suddenly and the advent of the online era confused them completely. Their screen time had increased enormously leading to various other issues. This literally pushed me to make the film,” Indira said.
The film also highlights the struggles of underprivileged children who lost their parents in the pandemic or those who hailed from families that could barely make both ends meet during the pandemic. “Also, there were children who hardly had anything to eat. The film narrates their story too,” the filmmaker said.
The maker of such films as The Green Window and Soch, which have been screened at various international and national film festivals, was working on a Bengali feature film when this idea struck her. “I was conducting a masterclass with a group of children and realised that such a film can be possible. My team warned me about the challenges working with really young children, but I knew this was possible.”
Poster of the 'Stars' Indira Dhar Mukherjee
The ‘stars’
The child actors in Stars are all less than five years old and it was their first time on screen. “I was worried about how they would react to the camera etc. but when it came to action time, I was surprised to see that they were at ease and it seemed that they were seasoned actors,” said Indira, who was working with such young kids for the first time.
Asked about the challenges she faced, the director said, “I knew it was not going to be a cakewalk and so we had a 15-day rigorous workshop with the kids before the camera rolled. They needed to be comfortable. The most difficult part was to explain the script to them. But once the shoot began, I realised it was easier than I had imagined. I communicated to them in their language and being a mother of a toddler, it worked as an added advantage.”
The seven ‘stars’ in Stars are Harshiv Valecha, Nitara Chamria, Swara Singhal, Ayank Chattoraj, Dityaa Pachisia, Sumeera Mimani and Kabir Mukherjee. Kabir is Indira’s son who is just three-and-a-half years old. “I remember how my son completed his shoot despite running 102 degrees temperature. His shot was fine and everyone on the set was surprised.”
The film was completed in three months and Indira said it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the parents of the kids. “I thank them (the parents of the toddlers) for their support. They also sat through long hours and never complained.”
She recalls moments of shooting with great fondness. “Kids can be really funny at times. In between the shots, one of them would suddenly start drinking water or go to the toilet without even asking. Others would follow suit and soon there would be no one on the floor! Making them sit together was another difficult task.”
Poster of the 'The Green Window' starring Jaya Seal Ghosh Indira Dhar Mukherjee
Release date and other films
Stars was supposed to be released around Children’s Day this year, but it has been postponed to early next year. Indira’s short film Mulaqat starring late Farrukh Jaffar (who played the role of Begum Jaan in Gulabo Sitabo) released on November 6. The short film can be viewed at E Film Zone. The story revolves around an old woman who is set to meet someone special.
Indira has also directed a mid-length film, The Green Window, starring Jaya Seal Ghosh. The film was shot at the filmmaker’s school, St Paul’s Boarding and Day School in Khidderpore, which has an old age home on the campus. The protagonist of the film is based on a real-life character, an old woman from the home. It is slated for release in December on an OTT platform.
Soch is also scheduled for release in 2023. Indira has recently completed a Bengali feature film, Swadeshini Bideshini.
Born and raised in south Kolkata, Indira moved to Mumbai after marriage and worked in a corporate firm as a human resources manager. She moved to Kolkata early last year and has since shot most of her films in the City of Joy.
